Ronnie James Dio is among those to be inducted into the Hall Of Heavy Metal History. Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Adam Bielawski

Hall Of Heavy Metal History will recognise a selection of the genre’s most inspirational artists at next year’s debut ceremony

There has long been the opinion within the metal community that the much-revered Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame continually fails to recognise key figures from the scene. This is so much so that the Hall Of Heavy Metal History, a non-profit organisation, will honour musicians and industry executives at its first annual ceremony next year.

In an announcement made this week, a list of nine inductees, which includes the singer Ronnie James Dio, will be honoured at the enshrinement that takes place on 18 January at the Anaheim Expo Centre in California. All proceeds go to the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund.

After Dio’s death from stomach cancer in 2010, the late singer’s wife Wendy Dio set up the charitable fund in his name to support cancer prevention research. A statement from the fund’s website states: “[The fund] is dedicated to support research and education that furthers early detection, prevention and treatment of prostate, colon and stomach cancers.”

When asked about the ceremony, Hall Of Metal History’s Pat Gesualdo said: “This event is something the fans have been wanting for a long, long, time. As a non-profit organisation, we are also dedicated to working with Wendy Dio and the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund.”